Shovel.



W. BEEHLER.

SHOVBL.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 25, 1909.

Patented Aug, 24, 1909.

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UNITED STAKES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BEEHLER, OF OWOSSO, MICHIGAN, ASSIG-NOR T0 OWOSSO MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

OF OWOSSO, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

sHovEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Aug. 24., 1909.

Application filed February 25, 1909. Serial N0.1480,036.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BEEHLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at ()wosso, in the county of Shiawassee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shovels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has particular reference to a snow shovel, and consists in the novel and simple construction thereof, in the peculiar arrangement and combination of parts, and various details of construction as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings,Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views, showing the front and rear portions of the shovel; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View, taken longitudinally through one of the handle furcations, showing the reinforcement for the extremity of the fork.

In the drawings thus briefly described, A represents the shovel in its entirety, consisting primarily of a blade or body portion B, preferably of metal, and a handle section C therefor. The blade is preferably concaved in configuration, and at its lower end is pro vided with the usual wear-edge D formed of a strip of metal extending widthwise of the blade, and preferably riveted thereto, and having its ends a return-bent to reinforce the blade corners.

The handle section is formed from a single piece of material, preferably wood. The lower portion of the handle section is split or forked, and the furcations E F are bent so as to conform to the external contour of the blade. They also diverge, as indicated in Fig. 2, to form a relatively broad support for the shovel body, and a reinforcement therefor from its upper to substantially its lower edge.

To prevent the sidewise tilting of the body under its load, the handle section is split upwardly from its lower end to a considerable distance above the top edge of the blade, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that a considerable spread of the furcations will be had before they come in contact with the body. In this manner, the load upon the body is steadied to a considerable extent, and there is not so great liability of the blade tipping in a sidewise direction.

The upper end of the handle section is also forked, the furcations being designated by the reference-letters G H, and between these furcations is interposed a handle proper I suitably connected to the extremities of the handle body.

To prevent breakage or further splitting of the handle section, metallic loops J K are employed, the former encircling the body in proximity to the lower fork section, and the loop K embracing the upper portion of the handle at the juncture of the furcations G H. While these loops hold the handle against further splitting, they do not in any manner weaken the body, as would result by the use of bolts or other similar devices extending transversely through the section. v

The furcations E F are each provided at the lower end with a reinforcement L, the reinforcement consisting of a strip of metal extending about the extremity between the body and strip D, as plainly shown in Fig. 3. The reinforcements are preferably tacked or otherwise secured to the furcations, and along each fureation is a series of securing devices, preferably nails, as M, which hold the fork members to the body.

0 represents a filling block interposed between the extreme upper edge of the blade and the adjoining portion of the handle section.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is,

1. A snow shovel, comprising a blade, a handle therefore comprising separated sec: tions engaging the back of the blade and converging from the lower edge thereof to a point considerably above the upper edge and engaging the blade at separate points in close proximity to the upper edge thereof to aid in balancing the load, said sections terminating in a single straight section beyond the point of union.

2. In a snow shovel, the combination with a blade, having a strip of metal riveted to its lower portion forming the shovel edge, of a single-piece handle section having a forked lower end upon which the blade is mounted, the furcations extending intermediate of the blade and strip, and a re inforcement for the end portion of each fureation.

3. A snow shovel, comprising a concave blade and a single-piece handle section therefor having its lower end bifurcated or split to a point considerably above the upper edge of the blade, the furcations diverging, forming a relatively wide support for the blade,

blade and strip,- and a V-shaped strip of metal engaging the end of each furcation and forming a reinforcement therefor.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

/VILLIAh/I BEEIILER. Vitnesses VARREN PIERPONT, FRANK I. BIDWELL. 

